Our Teaching Philosophy
We view meditation not as clearing the mind or attaining a flawless state of zen. It’s more about learning to sit with whatever arises—the unsettled thoughts, the overactive planning mind, and even that odd itch that shows up a few minutes after you settle in.
Our team brings together decades of practice across diverse traditions. Some began in academic philosophy, others through personal challenges, and a few stumbled into it during college and stayed. What unites us is a commitment to teaching meditation as a practical life skill rather than a mystic rite.
Each guide has their own way of explaining ideas. Alex Rao tends to use everyday-life analogies, while Mira Singh draws from her background in psychology. We’ve found that different approaches click with different people, so you’ll likely connect with certain teaching styles more than others.
Your Meditation Guides
Two practitioners who’ve made meditation their vocation, each offering a distinct perspective on the practice
Alex Rao
Lead Instructor
Alex began his meditation journey in 1998 after burnout from his software engineering career. He spent three years studying Vipassana in Myanmar and later trained in Zen meditation in Japan. What sets him apart is his talent for explaining ancient concepts through surprisingly modern analogies—he once compared monkey mind to having too many browser tabs open.
He leads our foundational courses and specializes in helping busy professionals cultivate sustainable meditation habits. His sessions often include practical discussions about bringing mindfulness into work life and managing stress without spiritual bypassing.
Mira Singh
Philosophy Guide
Mira combines her PhD in Germany Philosophy with fifteen years of personal meditation practice. She discovered contemplative discipline while researching ancient texts and realized that academic understanding means little without experiential insight. Her approach bridges scholarly inquiry with practical application.
She guides our deeper philosophical explorations and retreat programs. Mira has a gift for making complex philosophical ideas accessible without oversimplifying them. Students often say she helps them grasp not only how to meditate, but why these practices developed and what they’re really meant to achieve.
Why We Teach This Way
After years of practice and teaching, we’ve learned that meditation works best when it’s demystified. We don’t promise enlightenment or claim you’ll reach a perfect state of calm. Instead, we focus on building skills that help you meet life’s inevitable challenges with greater awareness and less reactivity.
Our courses begin in September 2025, giving you time to reflect on whether this approach resonates with you. We believe in taking time to make thoughtful decisions about contemplative practice—it’s not something to rush into based on momentary enthusiasm.
If you’re curious about learning meditation as a practical life skill rather than a spiritual pursuit, we’d be honored to guide your exploration. The practice has touched our lives in subtle yet profound ways, and we’ve witnessed the same for many others.